Raising the Political Profile of the Neglected Zoonotic Diseases: Three Complementary European Commission-Funded Projects to Streamline Research, Build Capacity and Advocate for Control

Okello, Anna; Beange, Iona; Shaw, Alexandra; Moriyón, Ignacio; Gabriël, Sarah; Bardosh, Kevin; Iconz,; Johansen, Maria Vang; Saarnak, Christopher F.L.; Mukaratirwa, Samson; Advanz,; Berkvens, Dirk; Oh-Nextgen,; Welburn, Susan C.

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003505

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(10 reference statements)

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“…One Health advocates have promoted the concept through a variety of research partnerships, training programmes and changes in institutional and organizational networks. A major focus has been on capacity building, through offering new ‘One Health’ courses at universities, a variety of north–south exchanges and the establishment of research centres of excellence [ 51 , 52 ]. This includes regional networks, such as the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS), the One Health Central and Eastern Africa (OHCEA) consortium and the Pan-Africa One Health Platform on Neglected Zoonotic Diseases.…”

Section: Toward Solutions? Linking Better Research-policy-action In Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Engaging research with policy and action: what are the challenges of responding to zoonotic disease in Africa?

Bardosh

Cornwall-Scoones²,

Kalema‐Zikusoka³

et al. 2017

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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Zoonotic diseases will maintain a high level of public policy attention in the coming decades. From the spectre of a global pandemic to anxieties over agricultural change, urbanization, social inequality and threats to natural ecosystems, effectively preparing and responding to endemic and emerging diseases will require technological, institutional and social innovation. Much current discussion emphasizes the need for a ‘One Health’ approach: bridging disciplines and sectors to tackle these complex dynamics. However, as attention has increased, so too has an appreciation of the practical challenges in linking multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral research with policy, action and impact. In this commentary paper, we reflect on these issues with particular reference to the African sub-continent. We structure the themes of our analysis on the existing literature, expert opinion and 11 interviews with leading One Health scholars and practitioners, conducted at an international symposium in 2016. We highlight a variety of challenges in research and knowledge production, in the difficult terrain of implementation and outreach, and in the politicized nature of decision-making and priority setting. We then turn our attention to a number of strategies that might help reconfigure current pathways and accepted norms of practice. These include: (i) challenging scientific expertise; (ii) strengthening national multi-sectoral coordination; (iii) building on what works; and (iv) re-framing policy narratives. We argue that bridging the research-policy-action interface in Africa, and better connecting zoonoses, ecosystems and well-being in the twenty-first century, will ultimately require greater attention to the democratization of science and public policy.This article is part of the themed issue ‘One Health for a changing world: zoonoses, ecosystems and human well-being’.

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Section: Toward Solutions? Linking Better Research-policy-action In Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Engaging research with policy and action: what are the challenges of responding to zoonotic disease in Africa?

Bardosh

Cornwall-Scoones²,

Kalema‐Zikusoka³

et al. 2017

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

Self Cite

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“…The UTCC model as adopted and Institutionalised by Uganda in 1992 provides an effective platform to give immediate response as over time, for the past 28 years, there has been evidence of the socio-economic value that the One Health approach has led to the reduction of sleeping sickness in the human population ( Franco et al, 2018 ) and areas that were not able to keep high grade cattle like South Eastern Uganda can now benefit from them if they adopt appropriate recommendations on cost benefit analysis of the different control options ( Shaw et al, 2013 , Shaw et al, 2017 ). Relatedly, research around SOS and COCTU one-health approach that was supported by ICONZ ( Okello et al, 2015a , Okello et al, 2015b , Okello et al, 2015c ) raised the profile of Neglected Zoonotic Diseases through three complementary European Commission-funded projects that aimed to streamline research, build capacity and advocate for their control. This research also showed that only 25% of cattle need to be treated with RAP to cost effectively control HAT ( Muhanguzi et al, 2014b ) and that this treatment has a large impact on household income ( Muhanguzi et al, 2015 ; Okello et al, 2015a , Okello et al, 2015b , Okello et al, 2015c ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Relatedly, research around SOS and COCTU one-health approach that was supported by ICONZ ( Okello et al, 2015a , Okello et al, 2015b , Okello et al, 2015c ) raised the profile of Neglected Zoonotic Diseases through three complementary European Commission-funded projects that aimed to streamline research, build capacity and advocate for their control. This research also showed that only 25% of cattle need to be treated with RAP to cost effectively control HAT ( Muhanguzi et al, 2014b ) and that this treatment has a large impact on household income ( Muhanguzi et al, 2015 ; Okello et al, 2015a , Okello et al, 2015b , Okello et al, 2015c ). The long-term success of SOS is the fact that activities are now embedded within COCTU policy and practice.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiences of the one-health approach by the Uganda Trypanosomiasis Control Council and its secretariat in the control of zoonotic sleeping sickness in Uganda

Waiswa

Azuba

Makeba³

et al. 2020

Parasite Epidemiology and Control

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Elimination of sleeping sickness from endemic countries like Uganda is key if the affected communities are to exploit the potential of the available human and livestock resources (production and productivity). Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense , the parasite that causes acute sleeping sickness in humans, is transmitted by tsetse flies and co-exists in non-human animal reservoirs. Uganda by Act of Parliament in 1992 decided to handle the complex approach to control of sleeping sickness and animal trypanosomiasis by establishing the Uganda Trypanosomiasis Control Council (UTCC) and its secretariat the Coordinating Office for the Control of Trypanosomiasis in Uganda (COCTU). The Institutional arrangement aimed to promote engagement with key stakeholders across nine key ministries and the community, all vital for control of zoonotic sleeping sickness, creating a One Health platform, long before such practice was common. From 2006, approaches by the Public Private Partnership, Stamp Out Sleeping Sickness (SOS) have required involvement of stakeholders in the promotion of insecticide treated cattle as live tsetse baits, targeting elimination of zoonotic sleeping sickness. Experiences in promoting sustainability of these interventions have been captured in this study as part of the Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (TIBA) partnership. Meeting transcripts, focus group discussions and questionnaires were used to collect data from the different stakeholders involved in a rapid impact live bait study over 12 months from Dec 2017. The study provides unprecedented insights into the stakeholders involved in the application of a One health approach for control of zoonotic sleeping sickness across the most important active human African trypanosomiasis focus in East Africa. This unique study is fundamental in guiding multi-stakeholder engagement if the goal to eliminate zoonotic sleeping sickness is to be realised. A major challenge is timely feedback to the community as regards human and animal disease status; rapid diagnostic services that can be delivered from facilities established in close proximity to the affected communities and well equipped in-country reference laboratories are key to delivering effective control and best One Health Approach.

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“…Public health and veterinary academic centers also have the potential to participate in awareness and education campaigns by recruiting volunteer students and conducting epidemiological studies and data acquisition on disease prevalence and risk factors. Collaboration with reputable international academia for promotion and practice of One Health at higher education centers in the ME countries and funds spent on this issue can be reciprocally productive and beneficial [80], because a considerable number of human infections detected in the developed world are traced back to this region [11,81].…”

Section: Awareness Among Professional Stakeholdersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brucellosis in the Middle East: Current situation and a pathway forward

et al. 2020

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Brucellosis is a bacterial endemic zoonotic disease of global significance with detrimental impacts on public health and food animal production. It is caused by Brucella spp., an expanding group of pathogens able to infect various host species. Bovines and small ruminants, which excrete the bacteria in milk and in reproductive discharges, are major sources of infection for humans and other animals. Contact with contaminated animals and consumption of unpasteurized dairy products are the main routes for human infection. In spite of the considerable progress of knowledge gained and success achieved in brucellosis control in the developed world, this disease continues to be an important burden in the Middle East (ME). Common risk factors implicated in the difficulty and complexity of brucellosis control within the region include (1) social and political instabilities; (2) insufficient resources and infrastructure for appropriate diagnosis, reporting, and implementation of control measures; (3) variation of livestock husbandry systems and their commingling with other livestock and wildlife; and (4) traditional cultural practices, including consumption of unpasteurized dairy products. Development of core interdisciplinary competencies is required for a true One Health-based endeavor against the disease. National awareness and educational programs addressing all population sectors from consumers to decision-makers seem to be the next logical, sustainable, and economically viable approach toward improving disease status in this region. In the present review, we describe the current situation of brucellosis in the ME, focusing on the major limitations and shortcomings regarding disease control. We propose a regional approach toward public awareness of brucellosis as the first step in mitigating the disease and discuss the potential benefits, and components of such a strategy, which can further be used as a model for other endemic zoonotic diseases.

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Raising the Political Profile of the Neglected Zoonotic Diseases: Three Complementary European Commission-Funded Projects to Streamline Research, Build Capacity and Advocate for Control

Cited by 8 publications

References 13 publications

Engaging research with policy and action: what are the challenges of responding to zoonotic disease in Africa?

Engaging research with policy and action: what are the challenges of responding to zoonotic disease in Africa?

Experiences of the one-health approach by the Uganda Trypanosomiasis Control Council and its secretariat in the control of zoonotic sleeping sickness in Uganda

Brucellosis in the Middle East: Current situation and a pathway forward

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